I stared at the dog that Mila wouldn't stop petting. She kissed his forehead and looked at me after several minutes of ignoring me.

"Do you want to open presents?" I asked, resting my hand on her shoulder. "Your parents gave me a few to give to you and my cousin Dallas got you something too."

"You still got me something? After everything I've put you through?" She froze up and confusion fell upon me. She seemed to absent-mindedly rub her chest as she spoke. "I've put so much emotional and financial stress on you..."

"It's alright—" I began to speak but she cut me off.

"No, it isn't. You had to move to a smaller apartment because I cost too much. Why did you do it?" Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes kept their hold on me.

"I couldn't just watch you get sick. Every plan you canceled made me more scared for you... You mean a lot to me, dummy." I gave her a hand to help her up.

"Now I've got an ugly scar." She pouted. I kissed her forehead and sighed.

"A scar is better than cancer, huh? Let's unwrap some presents, babe." Mila nodded and took a seat on the sofa. I began dividing and passing the gifts to Mila and making a pile for me.

"I'm getting a dog bed for that poor pup after we get home." The dog had laid down next to Mila and I leaned back against the chair. I watched Mila open up a present from her mother. A small box with tickets in it and a note.

"What does it say?" I asked quietly. Mila rolled her eyes but smiled when her eyes met mine.

"Take your fiancé out after a family dinner." She read in monotone. "Normally that would be annoying, but now I have someone to go with... Thank you."

"You would've taken me anyway," I countered with a smile. Mila nodded and laughed, causing the pup next to her to perk up.

"But now I have a fiancé! The new year will make me unstoppable!" Mila's grin lit up the room. There was a glint in her eyes that made me want to do better. I wanted to show her off as I always did, but now as a partner and not a single friend. Her smile meant everything to me and felt the need to share it with others, to let them know that I was to spend the rest of my days with her. "Merry Christmas to us, huh?" She got up and moved my legs. She sat down between them and moved her presents next to us.

"Comfy?" I asked, resting my head on her shoulder. She leaned back on me and hummed, allowing the silence to overcome us. Once we had finished opening the gifts from others, a layer of awkwardness fell on us. We were left with what we had gotten for each other.

"Open mine first. It's... I wanted to give this to you since I bought it." I smiled and let my fingers tap on the outside of my thigh as Mila unwrapped the present. I couldn't see her reaction, but the gasp told me enough. She froze, then spun around and pulled me into a hug. She nuzzled her head against me and hugged me tightly. "Do you like it?" I asked quietly.

"Of course I do! I've wanted a new camera since my mom smashed my old one." She sighed and looked up at me. I wiped her eyes and kissed her forehead.

"She's crazy. Don't let her crush your dreams, baby." I had to take a deep breath to calm myself. The intimacy was something new to me and though the feelings were nothing new, the pet names and the expression were still new.

"It's perfect! Thank you," Mila whispered, wiping her sleeve across her eyes before handing me the last gift. She watched me tear off the wrapping paper and look at the hardcover picture book. There was a picture of us on the cover. I opened it and each page was covered with pictures of us.

"Mila," I looked through the pictures and my eyes laid on one where Mila and I were kissing. The kiss had been staged but it still struck something in me. I laughed and pointed to it, looking up at Mila. "Maybe it was a sign."

"Maybe it was." She turned back and kissed my cheek, but kept her stare after. I continued flipping through the pages and a small paper fell out. "Go ahead,"

I read through the short note from Mila. It had to be at least be written before we got up to the cabin, meaning that she went days knowing that I would read the little love letter and she wouldn't know how I'd take it.

"Mila," I looked down to see her already smiling up at me. She was happy and so was I. I was unable to stop smiling and that's what made her special to me. I held her knowing that once we'd leave, she would stay in a more permanent position by my side.

I had a new purpose—to look after my soon-to-be wife and care for her with the knowledge that one trip caused it all.

So I did.